WINNING TIP: Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye

This site is in a stunning setting at the foot of the Black Cuillins on the shore of Loch Brittle, with easy access to spectacular walking and climbing – you can spend a week or so here and never need to drive anywhere. The Talisker distillery (malts.com) up the glen at Carbost welcomes visitors with a tour and a dram. This is as near to wild camping as you can get while still having toilets, showers and shop. 01478 640404, tinyurl.com/6abdwlh, adult £6.40, child £4.20Anshir

UK

Fidden Farm campsite, MullThis site sits at the end of the Ross of Mull near Fionnphort. The sand is white and fine-grained and the water is crystal-clear. The views across to Iona are beautiful. You could sit outside your tent looking across the bay, watching seals if you are lucky, forever.Knockvologan Road, 01681 700427, tinyurl.com/642ve6f, adult £6, child £3Ashyards

Ardmair Point Holiday Centre, near Ullapool, Ross-shireArdmair Point is on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by sea. The site is grassy and well-kept with all the usual facilities, but it's the location that makes it. The sheltered bay is the perfect starting point for exploring the rocky coast by kayak or boat. You can fish for mackerel, explore uninhabited islands, or just glide among the otters, porpoises and seabirds. The campsite has a private mooring, and you can launch kayaks from the beach. After a day on the sea or in the Assynt hills, sit by the tent and watch the sun turning the cliffs of Ben Mor Coigach gold.01854612054, ardmair.com, pitches from £8karemessruther

Mossyard, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and GallowayThis is a small, family-run site by a bay with clear water off two sandy beaches. There are dunes for sheltered sunbathing, and a little island to walk to at low tide. Mossyard is on a working farm, is surrounded by beautiful, rolling countryside perfect for walking. There are great views to the Isle of Man, and the absence of light pollution gives amazing starlit nights. 01557 840226, mossyard.co.uk, pitches from £13 Yarrowman

Nash Point, South GlamorganA carefully positioned tent at Nash Point will be flicked by the beam from the lighthouse every 10 seconds. Below the cliffs are limestone pavements studded with fossils, and to the west stretches a clean, yellow sand beach with gentle water but no crowds. A farmer makes the grassy land available and the site (there are no facilities) is organised by a local family who serve strong tea and homemade Welsh cakes in the entrance to the clifftop car park. Car parking charge £2, informal camping fees at farmer's discretionHerbalwalks

Caerfai Bay, PembrokeshireThis lovely family-run campsite is right on the edge of the cliff and boasts breathtaking panoramic views of the coast. An empty sandy beach is only 200m away, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park runs past the site entrance. Next door to the campsite there is a great farm shop selling organic produce and freshly baked croissants.01437 720274, caerfaibay.co.uk, pitches from £11rachbrown

Tristram Campsite, Polzeath, CornwallTristram Campsite is situated in what must be the best cliffside location in Cornwall, with direct access down on to the beach. The site is made up of three fields, all fenced off so it is secure and safe for your family and belongings.01208 862215, polzeathcamping.co.uk, pitches for two from £20Brackenheart

Treloan Coastal Holidays, CornwallYou don't want to tell anyone about this campsite on the Roseland peninsula, because it is magic. We have just spent half term there. Wednesday night was a "fireside session", with poets, storytellers and songs – and toasted marshmallows. My kids made new friends, climbed trees and played Swingball, all with a sea view.01872 580989, coastalfarmholidays.co.uk, pitches from £13.50rosefamily

Pinewoods Holiday Park, Wells-next-the-Sea, NorfolkThis is an excellent site with a choice of camping or mobile homes. There are beach huts to rent too, and a lovely cafe and good-value shop. The amazing beach goes on for miles. It's a lovely one-mile walk or cycle ride into Wells, or you can walk along the beach or through the woods to Holkham. Beach Road, 01328 710439, pinewoods.co.uk, from £20 for a pitch Loulouleeds

France

Camping Municipal de Lit-et-Mixe, Cap de l'Homy, south of BordeauxThis is possibly the coolest place I've ever been. Sitting in my campervan, surfboards everywhere, drinking beer and listening to the ocean – what could be better? It's a minute from the beach, where you can watch spectacular sunsets and eat fresh fish until you explode. It's a little-known wonderful place, where everyone feels at home.+33 5 5842 8347, camping-cap.com, pitches from €12.90KaySmythe

Sardinia

Baia Blu La Tortuga, AglientuThis is one of the most appealing campsites we have stayed at. It's right on the the sea, and listening to the waves in the early morning, or soaking up the setting sun, is unsurpassable. This coast is dotted with white sandy coves where jet-setters' yachts sit on an azure sea. +39 079 602200, baiaholiday.com/en/la_tortuga, pitches from €34Ngenevier

New Zealand

Hahei beach campsite, CoromandelThisno-nonsense, quiet campsite is yards from stunning Hahei beach. There's plenty of room to pitch, lots of communal barbecues and super retro wood chalets if you fancy. Swimming in the sea at 7am we could see tui birds in the trees, and bunnies hopping about. You can walk to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach from here. +64 7 866 3889, haheiholidays.co.nz, pitches from £25 Nwhittington

Thailand

Mo Ko Surin National Park campsite, Phang NgaMo Ko Surin National Park, 55km from the mainland, contains the Surin Islands and surrounding waters – of the total area, 80% is sea. There is a brilliant campsite on one of the islands. Our tent (sheets provided) was pitched on the edge of a white-sand beach and provided great sea views and beautiful sunsets. The co-op restaurant by the campsite is a great place to chill out, meet people and enjoy locally caught or grown fish and veggies. You can go snorkelling off the beach or from longtail boats. Book trips from Khao Lak on the mainland.+66 7647 2145, surin-islands.com, ready-pitched tents £11.50 a nightChongqingBlues

Kenya

Twiga Lodge, Tiwi BeachTiwi Beach lies on the coast of Kenya between chaotic Mombasa and package tour destination Diani Beach, but it is a universe apart from either. It's hard to believe that the wide expanse of white sand lined with tall palm trees leaning gently out towards the Indian Ocean is not a computer enhanced image. At Twiga Lodge, you can camp on the edge of the beach, beneath trees frequented by hornbills and monkeys. As the sun sets, you can head over to the lodge bar for a cold beer, and perhaps buy a just-caught red snapper from a fisherman on an ancient bicycle. Later, you can bake your fish on coals in the sand under a star-crammed African sky.+254 721 577614, twigalodge.comMtafrica

Ghana

Stumble Inn, ElminaStumble Inn is a traveller's rest in Elmina in Ghana, with accommodation in rondavels, dormitories and tents. You can walk straight from your tent onto the beach, have an open air shower with water heated up by the sun, and grill your freshly bought fish from Elmina market on the camping BBQ. The fish market and Elmina castle are a 30-minute beach stroll away. You can get dinner and a Ghanaian beer at the lodge's bar.+233 54 146 2733, stumbleinnghana.comrosycheer